ABBEY SANDS STEPS - NO ACTION UNTIL AFTER SUMMER SEASON

3.48.23pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 22nd Jun 2007

Following a number of complaints by local residents about the dangerous dis-repair of the steps at Abbey Sands, Ellacombe Ward Councillor Cindy Stocks took the matter up with the Conservative Elected Mayor.

The Conservative elected Mayor replied and promised action "ASAP".

However, on taking up the matter with Council Officers, Councillor Stocks learnt that the repairs will not be started until September, and will take four years to complete.

Councillor Stocks said: "I wrote to the Mayor about the steps at Abbey Sands as I was concerned that they would not be in a fit state for the tourist season. When I received the letter from the elected Mayor saying that the steps would be "cleaned and then repaired ASAP", I was very pleased. However, on talking to council officers to get some more detail, I was shocked to discover that the first 25% of the work will not be started until September. Also, the work will not be completed until 4 years time.

"What was most shocking to me was the discrepancy between what the Mayor told me and the actual reality of the situation. If I had responded to my constituents saying that the work would be done ASAP that would have left the Council looking very silly indeed. The Conservative mayor needs to be more open about what is going on, and cut down on the rose-tinted spin."